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Normal Reproductive and Endocrine Life Stages and Their Impact on Different Sleep Disorders

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Sleep Disorders in Women

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCNEU))

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Abstract

Sleep disorders affect people at all stages of life. For women, sleep complaints may vary by hormonal status as well as endocrine life stage. Certain broad perceptions about sleep and sleep disorders are supported by population surveys (1). Elderly women seem to have more insomnia complaints, women develop sleep problems with pregnancy and menopause (1-3), and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) increases in the postmenopausal population (4). Despite these perceptions, study findings may be inconclusive or contradictory. In earlier research, gender-specific aspects are not distinguished within the study populations. Other older studies of women do not identify hormonal condition or cycle status. Formal research in these areas and the differing effects of hormonal status on sleep disorders is a more recent focus of the sleep community. This chapter provides an overview of the current perceptions of the effects of life stage and reproductive status on sleep disorders in women from menarche through menopause.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sleep-Wake Disorders Center, New York Weill Cornell Medical Center, White Plains, NY

    Rochelle Goldberg MD

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  1. Rochelle Goldberg MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vermont Regional Sleep Center Department of Neurology, University of Vermont College of Medicine/Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT

    Hrayr P. Attarian MD

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Goldberg, R. (2006). Normal Reproductive and Endocrine Life Stages and Their Impact on Different Sleep Disorders. In: Attarian, H.P. (eds) Sleep Disorders in Women. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-115-4_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-115-4_5

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-592-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-115-4

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